Notes of Faith July 21, 2025
Words of Love
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6
The apostle Paul created lists in his letters. He listed the spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-10), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), the acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21), and others. But he never ordered his lists in terms of importance—except in one instance. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, he listed the three most important virtues in the Christian life: faith, hope, and love. And of these three, he said love is the greatest.
Nowhere is love more important than in the words we speak to others. The Bible speaks clearly about the power of speech. Proverbs 18:21 says that our words have the power of life and death. The apostle James warned his readers about the power of speech and how easy it is to be double-minded when it comes to our words: “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:10). If love is the greatest virtue, surely our words should be spoken with love at all times.
Look for ways today to speak words that reflect God’s love, words that convey grace to others.
Our words reveal our thoughts.
William Arthur Ward
James 3:5
the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
James 3:8-12
No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
James 1:19
19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak…
James 1:26
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
1 Peter 3:8-10
be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,
"THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
We must “think” before we speak; one of the hardest things in life to do. If we are to obey the Word of the Lord, we are to speak only that which is beneficial to those who hear. May we be a blessing with our words today!
Pastor Dale